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Rheological Profiling of Lamin Nanofilament Solutions to Guide Fiber and Film Formation
ChE-A-11
Shir Shimshon; shimshonshir@gmail.com
Advisor: Dr. Kfir Ben-Harush
SCE - Shamoon College of Engineering, Ashdod
Recombinant C. elegans lamin proteins self-assemble into nanofilaments capable of forming tough fibers and films. In previous studies, distinct assembly methods—dialysis-driven fiber networks and wet-spinning with varied dialysis conditions—produced lamin solutions with different nanostructures. This project investigates how these structural differences affect rheological behavior and material processability. Using shear rheology, we evaluated viscosity, storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G′′) to assess nanofilament organization and intermolecular interactions. Preliminary results showed that wet-spun lamin solutions at high concentrations exhibit gel-like behavior, marked by elevated G′, zero-shear viscosity and shear-thinning. These properties suggest strong internal networks and favorable flow characteristics—guiding the design of stable, tough and scalable lamin-based fibers and films.
Keywords: lamin protein, nanofilaments, rheology, storage and loss modulus, viscosity